Squiz Today – Friday, 6 September

SQUIZ SAYINGS

"This should be the responsibility of photographers today, to free women, and finally everyone, from the terror of youth and perfection."

Said German fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh of his craft. Still, he took a lot of photos of some of the most beautiful people in the world before his death on Tuesday at 74yo. One of his last big jobs was shooting Meghan Markle’s British Vogue September issue cover - an instant classic. The Sussex’s paid tribute yesterday praising him for his “healthy ideals of beauty”.

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BREXIT ELECTION QUESTION TO LINGER INTO NEXT WEEK

THE SQUIZ
Brexit situation report: still a mess…

CARE TO ELABORATE?
Sure. To recap, UK PM Boris Johnson lost bigly yesterday. MPs in the House of Commons voted to get a 'no deal' Brexit on 31 October off the agenda by moving to delay the UK’s departure from the European Union until 31 January. So, Johnson lost that one. Note: that bill is likely to receive royal assent (aka become a law) on Monday. He then called for a general election for 15 October (something that needs a two-thirds majority vote because they are two-and-a-bit years into a fixed five-year term). And Johnson lost that too. In developments overnight, the question of a snap election will be revisited on Monday. Oh, and Johnson’s frontbencher brother Jo - a Remain supporter - has resigned from parliament.

WHERE IS THIS GOING? AND DON'T SAY 'DUNNO'...
Umm, how about 'it remains to the seen'? Truly, things are so whackadoo, it's impossible to predict. But three observations:

• Johnson has no control of the parliament he is meant to lead. Which is why he is keen to get to an election ASAP. And his promise to Brexit on 31 October “no ifs, no buts” is an issue he thinks is a winner with a majority of voters.

• Jeremy Corbyn and his Labour Party became the first opposition in British political history to knock back an election when it was offered. Labour abstained from voting on Johnson’s election motion because the prospect of a 'no deal' Brexit on 31 October has to be officially taken off the table with the complete passage of the legislation, Corbyn said. But "chicken" was the cry from the Conservatives.

• As for the Brexit process, it depends on the outcome of an election. If it all goes Johnson’s way, there is a pathway for the UK to Brexit on 31 October. But at this point it reads like a Choose-Your-Own-Adventure - there are so many roads it could take. Hold tight until next week's chapter…

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SQUIZ THE REST

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BAHAMAS PICKS UP THE POST-DORIAN PIECES

More details on the damage Hurricane Dorian has left in its wake in the Bahamas are coming to light. So far 20 people have been confirmed dead, a number which is expected to rise. Rescue efforts have been held up by severe damage to harbours and airports, and reports say hospitals are also in a bad state. About half of all homes on the islands of Abaco and Grand Bahama are badly damaged or completely destroyed. And the water supply is believed to be contaminated. Health officials are worried about “the risk of diarrheal diseases, the risk of rodents, the risk of mosquitoes, lack of access to proper medical care.” Meanwhile, Dorian is forecast to move close to the coast of South Carolina where it’s currently doing extensive damage. It will then go close to the coast of North Carolina in the coming day. More than 2.2 million people have been ordered to evacuate along the US south-eastern coastline.

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TEO WEIGHS UP A FIGHT

A report by The Sydney Morning Herald/Age investigative supremo Kate McClymont published yesterday revealed damning allegations levelled at prominent neurosurgeon Charlie Teo. Numerous claims of sexual misconduct, charging vulnerable patients exorbitant fees, and links to underworld figure Mick Gatto were canvassed. In response, Teo said the article was “inaccurate” and “biased”, and he’s asked his lawyers “to review the article”. Teo has long been a controversial figure in medicine for his reputation for operating when others wouldn't. Notably, urologist Professor Henry Woo tweeted his concern earlier this year about the high number of GoFundMe campaigns to raise exorbitant amounts for access to Teo’s expertise - an episode that divided medicos and patients.

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A COMEBACK FOR MYER?

Myer’s share price jumped 10.5% yesterday after it recorded an increase in profits for the first time in nine years. But it’s no Steve Smith double centuryand there’s a long way to go before it pops the Yellowglen… Much of the profit generated last financial year came not from an increase in sales (in fact, comparable sales fell 2.9% from last year) but from $32.6 million worth of back-end cost-cutting (which is not the latest fad diet...). Despite the positive result, analysts said Myer’s outlook for 2020 is troubled, with CEO John King confirming the retailer will continue to close stores. For context on how far it has to go, Myer's share price was $4.10 when the company relisted on the Australian Stock Exchange in late 2009. Yesterday it finished up at 63c…

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FIZZ GOES OUT OF SOFT DRINKS

Attention soft drink lovers - a new study has found the consumption of sugary and artificially-sweetened fizzy drinks is associated with a heightened risk of all causes of death. The study is the largest of its kind, looking at nearly 500,000 participants from around Europe. It found that the consumption of two or more glasses of the drinks is associated with a higher risk of death from a range of issues including circulatory and digestive diseases. Spoiler alert: it might not be down to the drinks… Elevated soft-drink consumption could be a marker for an overall unhealthy lifestyle. The American drinks industry people said more than half of all beverages sold today contain no sugar.

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FRIDAY LITES - THREE THINGS WE LIKED THIS WEEK

So, Handmaid’s Tale fans - after a 34-year wait, Margaret Atwood's sequel The Testaments will be released next week (despite Amazon breaking the embargo…). You can pre-order it (and we’ll get a little commission…). And while you wait, the Sydney Morning Herald/Age have an extract to read. But really that’s all a ruse to show you this duck. Praise be.

Pop culture update: Lizzo. Who? She’s a big deal in music right now - even Beyoncé celebrated her birthday at a Lizzo performance this week. And she’s just had her first #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart with Truth Hurts. What’s the appeal? As this Rolling Stone article outlines; “She’s a powerhouse singer, a fast rapper and an excellent dancer whose charisma makes any performance irresistibly joyful.” And who does need a bit of joy, eh?

There have been times when we’d laugh at anyone who said this, but broccoli goes alright*. And roasted with chilli and garlic, it's even better.

*While also acknowledging it will never reach the heights of a potato.

SQUIZ THE DAY

Friday
6.10am (AEST) - US Open Women’s Doubles Semi-FInal - Ash Barty/Victoria Azarenka v Viktória Kužmová/Aliaksandra Sasnovich

4.00pm (AEST) - Federal Court expected to rule on the deportation of a Tamil family being held in detention on Christmas Island

India’s Chandrayaan-2 lunar lander due to touch down on the moon

ABS Data Release - Building Approvals, July

Legacy Badge Day

Braveheart’s White Balloon Day to benefit child protection advocacy

Actor Idris Elba’s birthday (1972)

Saturday
Brazil celebrates its Independence Day

Threatened Species Day

Sunday
6.00am (AEST) - US Open Women's Singles Final

1.00pm (AEST) - Super Netball Preliminary Final - NSW Swifts vs Melbourne Vixens - Sydney

Moscow’s municipal election (which in recent weeks have been the subject of the biggest sustained protest movement in Russia in years)

International Literacy Day

Monday
3.00am (AEST) - US Open Women's Doubles Final

6.00am (AEST) - US Open Men's Final